At this year’s 97th Academy Awards, the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood once again played host to a world-class celebration of cinematic excellence - and behind the glitz and glamour, a team of audio engineers and broadcast professionals relied on Shure’s cutting-edge technology to deliver flawless audio to millions around the globe.
Shure’s presence was felt in every corner of the theatre, from backstage orchestration to the onstage podium. TwinPlex lavalier microphones and Axient Digital wireless systems formed the backbone of a setup that demonstrated. Whether for capturing intimate dialogue or delivering powerhouse musical performances, the gear reportedly played a vital role in ensuring a pristine auditory experience throughout the night.
The production team brought together an expert crew including broadcast mixer Paul Sandweiss, music mixer Biff Dawes, orchestra mixer Tommy Vicari, and FOH engineer Patrick Batzell. Michael Parker handled monitors, while Tom Pesa oversaw orchestra monitors and Steve Vaughn took charge as RF frequency coordinator.
Several standout performances made use of Shure’s latest innovations. Artists including Cynthia Erivo, Doja Cat, BlackPink’s Lisa and Queen Latifah delivered powerful, immersive sets using Axient Digital transmitters. In Doja Cat’s case, her custom chrome ADX2FD/N8S handheld microphone was key to capturing the full range of her vocals.
In total, 10 channels of Shure’s PSM 1000 in-ear monitoring system were deployed, supporting every musical performance of the night. Six ADX3 plug-on transmitters with ShowLink were used at the podiums, alongside 18 Q5X Axient Digital-enabled PlayerMics paired with TwinPlex TL47 lavaliers, colour-matched to each performer’s outfit. Eight four-channel AD4Q receivers and a two-channel AD4D system completed the RF infrastructure, all supplied by Soundtronics.
From engineering support to final performance, the partnership between Shure and the Oscars production crew continues to set the gold standard for live audio. For Paul Sandweiss, Audio Engineer and Broadcast Mixer for the Oscars, capturing live dialogue with clarity was mission-critical. “Live dialogue is a huge component of the annual Oscars show,” he explained. “Much of the dialogue comes from movie soundtrack playbacks, and when we cut back and forth to our live talent on stage, we needed to have as present and clean dialogue as possible for our in-house audience and viewers worldwide.”
To meet that challenge, TwinPlex lavalier microphones were used on all talent as needed, ensuring dialogue integrated seamlessly into the broadcast. “For the in-house audience, we used Q5X PlayerMic Radio transmitters and Axient Digital receivers,” Sandweiss continued. “Not only do the Shure Lavaliers perform great for us, but having the wireless reliability of the whole Shure system ensures flawless performance throughout the almost four-hour live event. Also, having on-site support from the amazing Shure engineering team is excellent for our engineering staff and is well appreciated. Here’s to another year of live broadcast shows, where sound quality and reliability go hand in hand to make our lives that much easier.”
RF Frequency Coordinator Steve Vaughn echoed this sentiment, emphasising the critical importance of system integrity under pressure. “For an event as significant and challenging as the Oscars, everything has to work seamlessly,” he said. “Shure’s wireless systems, especially the Q5X Axient Digital-enabled PlayerMic, proved to be the perfect choice. The PlayerMic is not only flexible and nearly indestructible but also discreet and comfortable for performers, making it easy to integrate seamlessly into multiple performances. Combined with Axient Digital’s dependable and secure audio transmission, it ensured exceptional sound quality throughout the night."
Once again, Shure’s expertise, forward-thinking technology, and collaborative support proved essential to delivering a faultless listening experience at one of the biggest nights in global entertainment.